ALPHA 931 MENDELSSOHN STRING QUARTETS VOL. 2

VAN KUIJK QUARTET: NICOLAS VAN KUIJK, VIOLIN; SYLVAIN FAVRE-BULLE, VIOLIN; EMMANUEL FRANÇOIS, VIOLA; ANTHONY KONDO, CELLO

THE MUSIC

STRING QUARTET NO. 6 IN F MINOR, OP.80

Composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1847, it was the last work he finished before his death, and just months after the death of sister Fanny, who inspired this composition – its music expressing turmoil, and grief throughout its four movements.

STRING QUARTET NO. 4 IN E MINOR, OP.44

Composed and successfully premiered by Felix Mendelssohn in 1837, part of a set of string quartets that the composer dedicated to the Crown Prince of Sweden – its brightly optimistic music given lively tempi, especially in its Scherzo movement and in the closing Allegro.

STRING QUARTET NO. 5 IN E FLAT MAJOR, OP.44,

Composed and first performed in 1838, also part of the set of string quartets that Mendelssohn dedicated to the Crown Prince of Sweden, its forward-moving music redolent of the composer’s incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

THE PERFORMANCE

Flawlessly delivered with deep emotional intensity in the F minor, op. 80 and crisp articulation throughout. A sterling performance by one of today’s premier string quartets.

Rafael de Acha (c) 2023